Frame-joint.



E. G. BUDD.

FRAME JOINT. APPLmATmN PILED AUG. 20, 1907.

Patented June 8, 1909.

, a M m M W INVENTOR ATTORNEY UNITED sTA'rps PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD G. BUDD, O1 PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HALE-KILBURNMETAL COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OFPENNSYLVANIA.

FRAME-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June a, 1909.

Application filed August 20, 1907. Serial No. 389,326.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD G. Bonn, a, citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Frame-Joints, of which the following is a specification.--

This invention relates to the construction of joints in metallic framesand has reference more particularly to the construction of joints inframes and sashes for windows and doors.

The object of the invention is to effect certain improvements in theconstruction of such metallic frames to the end that a structure isproduced possessing ample strength, which is of attractive appearanceand may be manufactured at comparatively low cost.

In frames for windows .and doors constructed of sheet-metal, it ishighly desirable that the frame be of uniform thickness throughout andthat the lines of the joints between abuttin parts do not show on theexterior of the rame. The joints must be so constructed, however, thatthese desirable features are attainedwithout a sacrifice of the strengthof the structure as a whole. Such window and door frames usually consistof frame-members secured together at their ends, each consisting of oneor more strips of sheet-metal pressed to the desired cross-sectionalshape and to provide open space between opposite sides thereof, wherebygreater strength is secured.

In accordance with my invention, the adjacent ends of two frame-membersare secured together by employing a corner-box or spacer extendingwithin the ends of the members, welding or otherwise securing theabutting ends of the two members together and, preferably, riveting theends of the members to the corner-box or spacer. The corner-box ispreferably finished to fit tightly within the ends of the frame-membersand is specially formed to facilitate the operation j of securing theparts together. Also, the

heads of the rivets preferably lie in countersunk openings in themembers and after being upset are riveted thereto. By this method ofjoining the frame-members, two adjacent members have their ends firmlyunited, there is no unevenness in the thick ness of the frame at oraboutthe joint and the line of the oint does not show.

The preferred embodiment of the inven tion is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in whieh Figure 1 is an elevation of a portion ofa door-broken away and sectioned in part, and F igs. 2, 3 and 4 aredetail views in section on lines 22, 3-3 and 4.---4, respectively, of Fig. 1. m

Referring to these drawings, Fig. 1 shows a portion of a door consistingof rails or frame-members 1, 2 and 3, and a panel 4, but I wish itunderstood that my improvements in the frame construction are equallyapplicable to frames or sashes for windows. Each of the frame-membersconsists of one or more strips of sheet-metal pressed to the properform, so as to provide arectangular cross-section and an inwardlyextending flange, to which latter the panel 4 is secured. In theconstruction illustrated in the drawings, each frame-member consists ofa single strip of sheet-metal pressed to a rectangular cross-section asshown in Fig. 2 and to provide a flange 5 at one of the lateral edgesand a fold 6 at the other lateral edge, the

latter inclosing flange 5 and forming therewith a flange extendinginwardly of the frame. The ends of adjacent frame-members to be securedtogether are mitered off, as-shown in Fig. 1. At each corner of theframe, a corner-box or spacer 7 is provided, consisting of a metalliccasting. This corner-box is shaped so as to extend a short distance intothe end of each of the two abutting frame-members and is preferablyshaped as shown in Fig. 1. It is accurately finished, so that itsthickness is exactly equal to the width of the opening in theframemember, and thus it not only strengthens the corner of the framebut also provides finished surfaces, against which the sides of therails may be held securely by clamps during the process of uniting theends of the rails. These corner-boxes prevent buckling of the metal ofthe frame-members during this operation to a very large extent, andshould some slight buckling take place this can be readily removed byhammering the plates down against the surface of the corner-box, usingfor this purpose a suitable flattening hammer. The corncr-box 7 ispreferably hollow, so that it is of compara tively light weight, and isprovided with a number of openings therethrough for a pur posehereinafter to be described. Directly iii underlying the line of thejoint between the two framemembcrs, the corner-box 7 is provided with adepression or groove, as shown in crosssection in Fig. 3.

In securing the two adjacent frame-members together, the corner-box 7 ispositioned as shown in Fig. l and the abutting edges of the twoframe-members are welded together so that they form a unitary structure.In the operation of welding, the edges of the two frame-members arebrought to a high heat and molten metal is supplied along the line ofthe joint. The edges are thus united entirely around the frame. Afterthe metal has cooled, a considerable portion of the surplus metal at thejoint is driven down into the groove 8 in the corner-box 7 as by meansof a flattening hammer, and the remainder of the metal projecting abovethe surface of the frame may be filed off so as to leave aperfectly flatouter surface and make the, frame of uniform thickness throughout. Thisbeing done, rivets 9 are inserted through openings in the framemembersand the corner-box, and their ends 10 are upset in countersunk openingsin the frame-members Preferably the heads 10 of the rivets 9 are notturned over enough togive a very tight fit, since this would be apt tobuckle the metal somewhat, and after being turned over these heads areheated so as to effect a weld between them and the metal of theframe-members. After the metal has cooled, the surplus metal of theheads 10 may be filed off, so that the heads of the rivets are flushwith the surface of the frame-members.

Although the mitering of the ends of the frame-members is preferred,this is by no means essential, as the line of the joint between theframe-members may be differently disposed, if desired. The groove in thecorner-box 7 underlying the line of the joint affords importantadvantages; it allows room for the metal to flow during the weldingoperation, so as to insure a joint of greater thickness than the body ofthe rail. Also,.the groove serves to facilitate the welding, as the heatis not transmitted by the metal of the corner-box as rapidly as it wouldbe if the surface of the corner-box lay directly under the abuttingedges ofthe frame-members. the corner-box permits of obtaining a greaterthickness of metal along the line of the weld, whereby 'reater strengthis obtained, as a portion of the surplus metal may be driven into thisgroove after the weld is made, instead of being filed off. It will beseen that by this means the frame-members are firmly united at theirends and this joining of the members is effected without increasing thethickness of the frame at any point and without leaving a line showingwhere the joint between the members is made.

Moreover, the groove in Having now described my invention, what I claimas new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:-

1. A frame consisting of hollow framemembers of pressed sheet-metalhaving their ends secured together and a metallic cornerbox within theframe underlying the joint, the material of said frame-members beingthickened at said joint, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of two hollow metallic frame-members and a metalliccorner-box extending within the ends of said members, said box having agroove therein underlying the ends of said members and said ends beingsecured together, substantially as set forth.

The combination of two frame-members formed of sheet-metal stripspressed to a rectangular cross-section and having mitered ends, and ametallic corner-box extending within the ends of said members and havinga groove therein underlying said ends, said ends being welded togetherand the material of said members on the interior thereof entering saidgroove and on the exterior having a plane surface, substantially as setforth.

4. The combination of two hollow framemembers of pressed sheet-metalhaving their ends secured together, a metallic corner-box within theframe underlying the joint, the material of said frame-members beingthickened at the joint, and means for securing the frame-members to thecorner-box, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of two hollow framemembers of pressed sheet-metal, ametallic corner-box. extending within the ends of the members, said boxhaving a groove therein underlying the ends of said members and saidends being secured together, and means for securing each of said ends tosaid box, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of two hollow framemembers formed of pressedsheet-metal having their ends abutting, a metallic cornerbox extendingwithin the ends of said members, and means for securing said members tosaid corner-box, said means bein welded to said frame-members,substantialTy as set forth.

7. The combination of two frame-members consisting of sheet-metal stripspressed to rectangular cross-section and mitered at their ends, ametallic corner-box extending within the ends of the members and havin aplurality of openings therethrough, an rivets extending through saidopenings and having their heads Welded to said framemembers,substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of two frame-members consisting of sheet-metal stripspressed to a rectangular cross-section, a metallic corner-box extendingwithin the ends of said members, said ends being welded together, getherand the material of the weld entering and a plurality of rivetsextending through i said groove, and a plurality of rivets exopenings insaid corner-box and having tending through openings in said corner-boxtheir ends welded to said frame-members, and having their ends welded tosaid framesubstantially as set forth. members, substantially as setforth.

9. The combination of two frame-mem- This specification signed andwitnessed hers (UllSiStllig of sheet-metal Slglfifi pressed this 18thday of July, 1907. to a rectan ar cross-section an avin mitered ends, ziInetallic corner-box extei iing EDWARD BUDD' within the ends of saidmembers and having a groove therein underlying the joint between them,said ends being welded to- Witnesses:

R. M. FRIES, P. N. TUCKER.

